Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
One of the reviews says heart breaking and heart healing and I could not describe it better
Fabulous. A serious contender for my top 5 list this year.
Twenty-something Maddie is finding her way through life as a Ghana woman, living in London. Family, friendships, work, race, love, mental health….ALL of the things! So, so good.
Twenty-something Maddie is finding her way through life as a Ghana woman, living in London. Family, friendships, work, race, love, mental health….ALL of the things! So, so good.
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death of parent
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved this book! Literally read it so fast but Maddie was such a relatable character. I really appreciated how the author discussed certain aspects of being a “late bloomer”.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Such a cathartic read. As a later bloomer myself, Maddie’s story was so poignant and real. I do think that everything wrapped up a bit too nicely at the end, so I’m only giving four stars. It just seemed a bit unrealistic of an ending with everything perfectly in place. Made me really warm and fuzzy inside though!
‘Maame’ means woman in Twi, a nickname given to protagonist Maddie by her Ghanaian family, and one that’s all too true as from a young age she is the primary caregiver to a father with Parkinson’s. This coming of age novel juggles plenty of themes as 25 year old Maddie moves out from home and deals with the ways in which she was forced to grow up too quickly while in other ways, she is (seemingly) falling behind.
Race, sexuality, depression, family conflict and guilt are all deftly handled in this charming novel, and the tenderness that Jessica George feels towards Maddie is clearly felt on every page, and by extension is felt by the reader. Leastways, it certainly worked on me.
My main issue with this is that Maddie’s conflicts are all external. Her own issues are derived from the way in which the world and people around her behave, rather than any precise character flaws she possesses. For example, one moment in which she has an emotional outburst to flatmates, which becomes a main point of contention in their respective relationships, is somewhat dampened by the fact that this outburst… is clearly understandable once things simmer down. It’s a moment of upset and high emotion, sure, but in context it’s also all external pressure. Much of the novel seemed to me to operate in this way, and in that sense it all seemed to wrap up too neatly and tidily.
Nevertheless this is a debut novel that shows such compassion and warmth, and certainly recommended for people who enjoy coming of age stories. I’m very aware that what is an issue for me, will certainly be a pro for others!
Race, sexuality, depression, family conflict and guilt are all deftly handled in this charming novel, and the tenderness that Jessica George feels towards Maddie is clearly felt on every page, and by extension is felt by the reader. Leastways, it certainly worked on me.
My main issue with this is that Maddie’s conflicts are all external. Her own issues are derived from the way in which the world and people around her behave, rather than any precise character flaws she possesses. For example, one moment in which she has an emotional outburst to flatmates, which becomes a main point of contention in their respective relationships, is somewhat dampened by the fact that this outburst… is clearly understandable once things simmer down. It’s a moment of upset and high emotion, sure, but in context it’s also all external pressure. Much of the novel seemed to me to operate in this way, and in that sense it all seemed to wrap up too neatly and tidily.
Nevertheless this is a debut novel that shows such compassion and warmth, and certainly recommended for people who enjoy coming of age stories. I’m very aware that what is an issue for me, will certainly be a pro for others!
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes